Listen Up! Select the Right Hearing Aid with SLUCare Audiology

04/22/2019

SLUCare audiologist Dr. Dave Harris with a patient

Think about being unable to hear the world around you—the voices of loved ones, music,
TV, the sounds of nature. It’s hard to imagine for most, but it’s a daily reality
for many. Audiologist Dave Harris, Ph.D., says hearing loss can be a difficult challenge, but SLUCare practitioners offer
modern solutions that fit patients’ unique needs. For David McLaurin, these services
were life-changing.

McLaurin, 71, says he went to see Harris late last year because severe hearing loss
was interfering with his daily activities. “I had the mumps as a child, and doctors
originally said I might become completely deaf as a result,” he says. “I still have
some ability to hear, but I had been missing a lot of what was happening around me.
I had to ask people to speak slowly and repeat themselves, and it made communication
very difficult. I would misunderstand what they said, and then I’d answer them wrong.
And if there was any background noise, I couldn’t hear them at all. It was very frustrating.”
McLaurin says on car trips with his wife, he had to ask her to stop at rest areas
to talk because road noise made conversation impossible.

I had been missing a lot of what was happening around me ... Now, I can hear everything!”

SLUCare audiology patient David McLaurin

Harris, who sees patients at SLUCare Audiology offices in Midtown St. Louis and Creve Coeur, felt that hearing aids would be a good option, so the two worked together to identify the proper type. “Dr.
Harris understood that I didn’t want them to be very noticeable,” McLaurin says. “We
chose ones with a very thin wire behind my ear that connects to an inner device. They
blend in with my skin, and no one can tell they are there. Now, I can hear everything!
Phone conversations are clear, and I have no trouble separating background noise from
other sounds. The best part is, I don’t have to ask people to repeat everything.”

McLaurin says he now can appreciate simple things like the music of insects and tree
frogs in his yard in southwestern Illinois. “I’m in awe of what I can hear,” he notes.
“When I stepped outside on the first day of spring, everything was alive. I couldn’t
wait to tell my wife about all of the wonderful sounds.”

Harris says hearing loss is a condition that doesn’t discriminate; it can happen at
any age and for a variety of reasons. The most common cause is exposure to loud noise,
either suddenly or over time. Bursts of sound like explosions and gunshots can be
harmful, and so can sustained noise like loud music or the clamor of construction
equipment. Age, dementia, some medications, and conditions like high blood pressure
and diabetes also can play a role in hearing problems, Harris says.

“Around 2002, we started seeing a rise in the number of people who needed hearing
aids,” he notes. “That’s when wireless headphone technology was evolving, and we think
this was a big reason for the increase.” He says people who experience a ringing sensation
in their ears — and those who regularly work in noisy environments or listen to loud
music — should speak with a doctor before problems develop.

Harris points out that patients with gradual hearing loss may not become aware of
it until professional testing is done. “Many people don’t realize there is a problem
until they’ve experienced moderate to moderately severe loss,” he says. “When a new
patient comes in, tests are performed to see if he or she can hear certain tones.
We also look at middle ear function to see if the mechanical aspects of the auditory
system are working. We decide whether the problem should be solved medically or surgically
and consider a variety of options. Sometimes we send the patient to an otolaryngologist
(ear, nose and throat doctor) for additional care.”

According to Harris, speech testing is another important part of the process. “If
the patient has poor speech discrimination, hearing aids may not be suitable,” he
explains. “They may just amplify sounds that the person can’t understand anyway.”
He says in some cases of severe hearing loss, a cochlear implant may be the solution. The small electronic device bypasses damaged portions of the
hearing system and stimulates the auditory nerve to help the patient recognize sounds.

Whatever methods are chosen to address hearing loss, Harris says SLUCare professionals
monitor each patient’s progress carefully and make sure the treatment plan is effective
over time. He works mainly with adults but says there also are effective screening
tests and technologies for infants and children.

McLaurin says he wishes he had paid Harris a visit years ago, but he is grateful to
be enjoying life now. “I had no idea how good I would feel after getting hearing aids,”
he notes. “It’s so much better for your mood and self-esteem when you can hear everything.
A whole different world opens up.”

SLUCare Physician Group offers complete care and advanced solutions for patients with
hearing loss. SLUCare Audiology offices are at 3660 Vista Ave. and 555 N. New Ballas Road. For more information,
call 314-977-6362.